Community News
Our Past
These items were taken from the Sun’s editions 20, 30 and 40 years ago. April 2-3, 1971 The 1800 block of Main Street would be closed to vehicles early on the morning of April 5 for the start of construction on the new pedestrian mall. The street would not be reopened except to emergency fire, police and ambulance units. A new downtown traffic pattern that called for one-way traffic on Central and 17th also would take effect with the start o...
full story
Dent, Giefer
Ted Dent and Debbie Dent announce the engagement of their daughter, Kayla Dent, to Brett Giefer, son of the late Mike Giefer and Jeri Heitman. The bride-elect is a 2002 graduate of Girard High School and a 2006 graduate of Pittsburg State University with a bachelor’s degree in criminal justice. She is working toward a master’s degree in social work from the University of Kansas and is employed by TFI Family Services in Pittsburg. The future ...
full story
Larsens celebrate 65th
Melvin and Marjorie Larsen of rural Parsons will celebrate their 65th wedding anniversary with a reception from 2 to 4 p.m. April 10 at First Foursquare Church. Melvin Larsen and Marjorie Manners were married on April 6, 1946, in Liberal, Mo. The couple lived in California for four years before moving to Kansas. They lived in Shawnee for 25 years. Mr. Larsen was a truck driver for Botsford Ready-Mix. Mrs. Larsen was a teacher’s aid for seve...
full story
Smith, Mattox
Don and Mary Smith of Walnut announce the engagement of their daughter, Danielle Smith of Lawrence, to Broc Mattox of Lawrence, the son of Don and Roberta Mattox of Erie. The bride-elect is a 2007 Erie High School graduate. She is a senior at the University of Kansas, Lawrence, majoring in pharmacy. She is an intern at Wal-Mart in Olathe. The future groom graduated from EHS in 2005. He is a crop insurance adjuster for Great American Insuranc...
full story
Mattox, Maxson
Chris Mattox of Mound Valley and Marcia Mattox of Oswego announce the engagement of their daughter, Kimberly Ann Mattox of Coffeyville, to Tracy Jo Maxson of Coffeyville, son of Dan and Peggy Maxson of Edna. The bride-elect graduated from Labette County High School in 2002 and from Labette Community College in 2004 with an associate’s degree. The future groom is a 1995 graduate of LCHS and a 2001 graduate of Oklahoma State University with a ...
full story
Pound, O’Banion
Nick and Karen Sanchez and Matt Pound, all of Parsons, announce the engagement of their daughter, Kayla Joann Pound of Parsons to Frank Ryan O’Banion of Parsons. He is the son of Sonny and Sally O’Banion of Parsons. The bride-elect is a 2005 graduate of Parsons High School. She is attending Labette Community College, majoring in nursing. She is a licensed practical nurse at Elmhaven East. The future groom is a 2001 graduate of Labette County...
full story
Thomas, Dalton
Gene and Cheryl Thomas of Altamont announce the engagement of their daughter, Kayla Thomas, to Andrew Dalton of Manhattan. He is the son of Mickey and Jolene Dalton of Plattsmouth, Neb. The bride-elect is a 2007 graduate of Labette County High School. She is a recent graduate of College of the Ozarks with a bachelor’s degree in communication arts. The future groom is a 2009 graduate of College of the Ozarks with a bachelor’s degree in criminal...
full story
Drummonds to honor 60th year anniversary
Mr. and Mrs. Frank Drummond of Parsons will honor their 60th wedding anniversary with a reception from 2 to 4 p.m. Saturday, March 12, at First Christian Church in Parsons. Frank Drummond and Doris Cartwright were married March 11, 1951, in Parsons. Mr. Drummond worked for the city of Parsons before retiring. Mrs. Drummond was a homemaker. The couple have lived in Parsons since their marriage. They have four children, Connie Sullivan, Gary ...
full story
Wrights to celebrate 40th anniversary
Mr. and Mrs. Charles Wright, Thayer, have celebrated their 40th wedding anniversary. Charles Wright and Barbara Hughes were married Feb. 27, 1971, were married at the First Christian Church in Thayer. The couple have two daughters, Tara Gossett and her husband, Eric, of Mounds, Okla., and Sheila Vasquez and her husband, Noe, of Manhattan Beach, Calif. They also have three grandchildren, Andrew and Laken Gossett and Seth Solomon. The couple ...
full story
Harrison, Strait engagement
Shane and Karen Harrison of Parsons announce the engagement of their daughter, Haley Harrison of Parsons, to Eric Strait of Parsons. He is the son of Patrick and Janice Strait of Parsons. The bride-elect is a 2006 graduate of Labette County High School in Altamont. She is a customer service representative for Commercial Bank in Parsons. The future groom is a 2002 graduate of Parsons High School. He is general manager of Taco Mayo in Pars...
full story
Our Past
These items were taken from the Sun’s editions 20, 30 and 40 years ago. March 1, 1971 Expansion and modernization of Lambert-Duffy-Melone Inc., a Parsons apparel store, began as still another downtown improvement project. The store that handled men’s, women’s and boys’ clothing would occupy 50-foot frontage, twice that of its existing location at 1814 Main. The firm bought an adjacent building equal to its is existing size on the east in pre...
full story
Kebert, Evans engagement
Daniel and Judy Veenstra of Mound Valley announce the engagement of their daughter, Diane Kebert of Mound Valley, to Christopher Evans of Parsons, the son of Jimmy and Toni Evans of Parsons. The bride-elect is a 2002 graduate of Labette County High School. She is employed by Power Flame in Parsons. The future groom is a 2002 graduate of Labette County High School. He is employed as a driver for O’Brien Ready Mix in Parsons. The couple plan ...
full story
Cox, Horton engagement
Dr. John and Vickie Cox of Joplin announce the engagement of their daughter, Sarah Cox of Joplin, to Michael Horton of Joplin, son of Mike and Teresa Horton of rural Erie. The bride-elect is a 2000 graduate of College Heights Christian School, Joplin. She graduated in 2010 from The Chicago School of Professional Psychology, Chicago, with a master’s degree in child and adolescent psychology. She is a behavioral therapist at the Ozark Center fo...
full story
Pet owners should register them with city of Parsons
The city of Parsons is reminding residents to check their animals’ registration. Dogs and cats within the city of Parsons are required to be licensed. Pet owners can get a Parsons pet license by showing proof of current rabies vaccination at the city utility office in the Parsons Municipal Building. Licenses are also available at Allen Veterinary Center, 1425 N. 16th, the city’s contracted animal facility. “It is important to have your ani...
full story
Our Past
These items were taken from the Sun’s editions 20, 30 and 40 years ago. Feb. 26-27, 1971 Directors of First National Bank of Parsons elected Raymond Robbins as its president following a change in ownership control of the institution. Carleton Johnson, who with members of his family had acquired majority interest in the bank, would become chairman of the board. He had been president. Robbins, a 25-year veteran of service with the bank, had be...
full story
Our Past
These items were taken from the Sun’s editions 20, 30 and 40 years ago. Feb. 25, 1971 International Recreation Corp. of Boise, Idaho, bought the travel trailer division of Borg-Warner Corp. Travel Industries, based in Oswego, made the Dreamer line of truck campers and travel trailers that were marketed in the Midwest and in eastern states. It also had a manufacturing plant in Coffeyville and an unused site in Radford, Va. Bud Coons, founder ...
full story
Our Past
These items were taken from the Sun’s editions 20, 30 and 40 years ago. Feb. 24, 1971 Members of Parsons’ oldest church, First Presbyterian Church, planned to re-enact the early days of Parsons in a play to launch a centennial program. The church was founded in February 1871, before the incorporation of the city. First services were held in a saloon. More than 100 door prizes contributed by Parsons business firms would be awarded at the Par...
full story
Enforcement for seat belts to start
Law enforcement agencies across Kansas, including agencies in Labette County, will participate in an aggressive campaign in and around schools to educate and enforce seat belt laws Sunday through March 12. This is part of a program called SAFE (Seatbelts Are For Everyone), which is designed to promote and reward seat belt use among teens, while encouraging officers to strictly enforce the seat belt law. In 2009, nearly 24,000 teens were in...
full story
Our Past
These items were taken from the Sun’s editions 20, 30 and 40 years ago. Feb. 23, 1971 Hope Campbell, award committee chairman of the Hannah Jameson chapter of D.A.R. of Parsons, awarded Arlyne O’Connor of Parsons, Lucille Bogner of rural Parsons and Christy Jones of McCune D.A.R. good citizen awards. Christina Griffith, Barbara Willsie, Julie Long and Nanette Crispino all won D.A.R. awards in the American history essay contest. Beverly Hars...
full story
Our Past
These items were taken from the Sun’s editions 20, 30 and 40 years ago. Feb. 22, 1971 The Oswego-Service Valley USD 504 board rehired Eugene Burke for a two-year term as superintendent. Burke was in his fifth year as superintendent of USD 504. Before going to Oswego, he served 13 years as principal of Baxter Springs High School. Feb. 22, 1981 A Chetopa High School junior placed first in the District American Legion Oratorical Contest at Pi...
full story